Surgical splint



Disc. 20 1927.

R. D. FOULKE sunexcm, sPmm' Filed Dec. 5. 1925 f INVENTOR Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES A tssaeei PATENT OFFICE.

BOY D. FOULKE, or wAnsAw, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'ro WINIFRED DE P'UY LEITER.

SURGICAL sPLIN'r.

Application filed December 5, 1925. Serial No. 78,361.

This invention relates to improvements in surgical splints of that class used for sustaining the arm of a patient in fixed position relative'to the body so as to facilitate healing of dislocated joints or fractures of the bone of the arm that have been reset. The objects of the improvement are: First, to provide apparatus of its classthat may be applied to the trunk of a patient so as to move bodily therewith and afford fixed support for the patients arm in such adjusted position as may be determined by the surgeon to insure the comfort of the patient.

And, second, to provide a splint of the class described that may be adjusted readily so as to be applicable to either the right or left sideof the patient.

These objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of a construction embodying the invention, the parts being shown as adjusted for the left arm, and the point of vision being from the rear;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, the point of vision being from the side; and

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the means for securing the pivotal connection of the strut in adjusted positions.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a trunk-rest consisting of a plate 1 and a pad 2 of felt or other soft material secured thereto. On the front face of the .plate 1 is fixed a bar 3 at the upper end of which is secured a swinging arm l. In connection with the arm 1 is arranged a cradle composed of two sections 5 and 6 respectively, the cradle 5 being riveted to the arm and provided with longitudinal slots 7 through which corresponding studs 8 fixed on the other section 6 extend,

when tightened on the stud, secure the section 6 adjustably on the former section 5. At the outer end of. the adjustable section 6 V are fixed a pair of brackets 10 and 11 spaced apart that are engageable selectively with correspondinglyspaced brackets 12 and 13 that extend from the upper end of a forearm cradle 14.

A hinge member 15 having a square base there being a thumb-nut 9 on each stud that is pivoted on the bar 3 of the body-rest and 1s held in adjusted positions thereon by a aw 16 that is shaped to bear against two sides of the base of the hinge member, the aw being held in place on the bar by a fastening 17.. The hinged member forms a pivotal connection for a strut 18 at one end thereof, which strut has connection at its outer end with the fore-arm cradle 14: adjacent the lower part thereof. Said strut is adjustable as to length being composed of two perforated overlapping bars 19 and 20' secured in adjustable positions by bolts 21.

The plate 1, the cradle sections 5 and 6 and the fore-arm cradle 14 are preferably made of light sheet metal, such as aluminum, suitably curved so as to conform to those parts of the body to which they are'respec tively to be applied.

In utilizing the invention the trunk-rest is positioned against the body of the patient immediately beneath the fractured arm and is bandaged in place in the customary manner. The cradle sections 5 and 6 are then.

adjusted so as to conform with the length of the upper arm, and the strut is adjusted so that the fore-arm cradle will be sustained at the'desired angle relative to the upper arm cradle.

Owing to the angular position of the hinged member 15 in which it is held by the jaw, the axis 22 upon which the strut is sus-v tained in said hinge member is maintained out of parallelism with the axis 23 at the connection between the upper cradle member and the trunk-rest, and also the bolt 24 connecting the ears of the cradle section 6 and the fore-arm cradle extends with its axis out of parallelism with both axes 22 and 23, so that when the adjustments have been completed swinging movement of the cradles out of their adjusted positions is thereby prevented.

In applying the device to the left arm the brackets 10 and 12 on the cradle members 6 and 1a are connected by the bolt 24, and when the device is to be applied to the right arm the brackets 10 and 12 are disconnected fore-arm cradle is positioned and held upon an incline in conformity with that 01 the arm to -which it is-applied'.

The upper and -fore-arm are confined to the corresponding cradle members by the application of bandages in the manner customary n1 'the'practice' of surgery.

What I claim is 1. A surgical splint comprising a trunkrest including a padded gplate ;and azfixed vertically disposed bar; an upper arm cradle composed of two overlapping sections, one of 'Which has gpivotal connection "-With the upper=end=ofsaid bar,-=and -the other section being "longitudinally adjustable on @the former -section and having at its outer end a pair of finecl'bracketsspaced apart; a forearm -c =adle -having at its upper end 1a 3 pair of fixed brackets spaced apartdisposed-so that eitheiw one or theethe'r or": said brackets may be connected with the acorrespondin'g bracketion ithe upper 'arnr cradleythere' being a" bolt forming the connection therefor; a pivotally secured hinge member on said bar adjacent the lower end tliereofi -a fastening for securing: said I hinge member -:in adjusted positions and-a strutadjustable to length, and having connection "with saicl-hinge 1ne1nber at one end *and at its oppositei end -Wltll said forearm cradle thea-Xesof the connection between the trunlr-rest and upper iarm cradle, and betweensaid upper arm cradle nection with said rest at'the upper end there'- ofgaiore-arm cradle having a pan of spaced brackets separately connectable with correspondingbracketsion the outer end of the upper arm cradle; an adjustably secured hingeinrembenon theitrunk-rest:ad acent'the loweri'end'thereofyand a strut .=piv.otally .con -1 n'ected at one :end with saiddiingeamember and isec'cured -H B ItS-OPPOSIEG. end wvlth said tore-arm l'cradl'e the axes: of the .pl-VOlZEilCOD necti onsi between the: several parts i being out of parallelism With each other. 7

In a :surgical :splint, a ;trunk:.rest; ran upper :arm cradle rcompo'scd of itwo sections so as to be adjustable as to -l'ength,-' and zh avin'g pivotal connection withfisa=idurest vat ithe up per en d there of 'a fore-zarm cradle lraving means 1in cbnnection therewith :v'for pivotal attachmeijit with :said upper arm cradle selectively at different angles; and a support ing connection between-the riiore iarm :cnaclle and the trunk-rest includingwawstr ut andia hinge member, 5 said hinge :memberibeingrad lll'sta-bly -:sccured on said ;rest. f

In testimony whereof lzaffix my signature.

RE-Y :DJEOULKE. 

